The aim is to seize full control of the mobile device’s operating system, either by rooting (on Android devices) or jailbreaking (on Apple iOS devices). Others use the more concerning ‘ zero-click’ attack where vulnerabilities in the iMessage service in iPhones allows for infection by simply receiving a message, and no user interaction is required. If clicked, this link delivers malicious software, or malware, that compromises the device. Some approaches may involve an SMS or iMessage that provides a link to a website. The Pegasus spyware can infect the phones of victims through a variety of mechanisms.

Reports thus far allude to a surveillance effort reminiscent of an Orwellian nightmare, in which the spyware can capture keystrokes, intercept communications, track the device and use the camera and microphone to spy on the user.

Īmong the reported targets of the spyware are journalists, politicians, government officials, chief executives and human rights activists. The software was developed by the Israeli company NSO Group and sold to government clients. A version of this article was originally published by The Conversation ( CC BY-ND 4.0)Ī major journalistic investigation has found evidence of spyware, a form of malicious software, being used by governments around the world, including allegations of spying on prominent individuals.įrom a list of more 50,000 phone numbers, journalists identified more than 1,000 people in 50 countries reportedly under surveillance using the Pegasus spyware.

How to find spyware on mac